Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Medindia

Apple and Lettuce Could be the Remedy for Garlic Breath

by Shirley Johanna on Sep 23 2016 7:16 PM

Apple and Lettuce Could be the Remedy for Garlic Breath
New solution for garlic lovers to treat bad breath has been identified. Eating raw apple or lettuce may help reduce garlic breath, says a new study.
Researchers from the Ohio State University conducted a study the compounds that reduce garlic breath. The researchers gave participants three grams of garlic cloves to chew for 25 seconds. Then the participants received raw, juiced or heated apple, raw or heated lettuce, raw or juiced mint leaves or green tea were consumed immediately.

Garlic breath is caused by volatile compounds such as diallyl disulfide, allyl mercaptan, allyl methyl disulfide, and allyl methyl sulfide.

The researchers analyzed the levels of volatiles on the breath after consumption by selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry.

The findings showed that raw apple and raw lettuce decreased the concentration of volatiles in breath by 50 percent or more compared to the control for the first 30 minutes.

The deodorization levels of mint leaves were higher compared to raw apple and raw lettuce for all volatile compounds measured.

Apple juice and mint juice reduced the levels of volatiles, but not as effectively as chewing raw apple or raw mint.

Advertisement
Heated apple and lettuce significantly reduced the levels of volatiles. However, green tea had no deodorizing effect on the garlic compounds.

The researchers said that foods deodorize garlic breath through two mechanisms. First, enzymes in raw foods help destroy the odors. Phenolic compounds in both the raw and cooked foods destroyed volatile compounds. Thus raw foods are more effective because they contain both the enzymes and the phenolic compounds.

Advertisement
The study is published in the Journal of Food Science.

Source-Medindia


Recommended Readings
Latest General Health News
View All
Advertisement